Step Up Your Snack Game With This Cocoa And Almond Energy Balls Recipe

Energy balls are an increasingly common sight at supermarket checkouts, where they are offered as a healthier alternative to chocolate bars and sweets. But you don’t need to spend a couple of quid every time you want a stamina sphere – they’re very easy to make at home.

This cocoa and almond energy ball recipe comes from The Runner’s Cookbook by Anita Bean (RRP £14.99, Bloomsbury) – but these bite-sized snacks are great for everyone, not just runners looking for a boost during long training efforts. Whip up a batch at the weekend and keep them in your work fridge to have as a snack whenever the afternoon starts to drag and you hear the siren song of the biscuit tin.

Cocoa And Almond Energy Balls Recipe

Ingredients (makes 16 balls)

125g ready-to-eat Medjool or other soft dates (you can use standard dried dates, just leave them to soak in boiling water for 10-15 minutes and then drain)

Method

Place the dates in a food processor with the almonds, oats, nut butter and cocoa powder, and process for two to three minutes until you have a very stiff paste. You may need to scrape down the mixture from the sides of the bowl a few times.

Take a small amount of mixture and roll it between your hands to make a bite-sized ball. Repeat until you’ve used it all.

Choose your coating, spread it on to a large plate, then roll each ball around until nicely coated.

Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge, where it will keep for up to a week – or in the freezer for up to three months.